Seed dispensing cabinet



Jan. 9, A. JONES v SEED D-ISPENS ING CABINET Filed June 7, 1932 3Sheets-Sheet 1 Inuenlor A l- {fan/es Jan. 9, L JONES SEED DISPENSINGCABINET Filed June 7, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor 4 7021 6S Jan. 9, 1934. JQNES 1,942,895

SEED DISPENS ING CABINET Filed June 7; 1952 s Sheets-Sheet s PatentedJan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a convertible storage and dispensing cabinetassembly expressly designed for systematically accommodating and vendingloose seed in bulk form.

Briefly stated, the invention is predicated upon a novel base whichserves as storage means, as a scale counter, and a support for thebodily removable seed dispensing unit.

A further feature of construction is found in the specific constructionof the dispensing unit which is of cellular construction with the cellsformed into distinguishable rows and tiers of miniature bins, said binsbeing adapted to contain the different varieties, sizes of seed, so thatthey may be expeditiously and selectively discharged into a bag fillingscoop, or the usual scoop-like pan of a weighing scale.

Further novelty is predicated upon the specific bin constructions eachof which includes an inclined gravity feed chute co-operating withdischarge and filling troughs constructed to accommodate a pivoted gatevalve.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more readilyapparent from the following description and drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a front elevation of the complete structure as designed inaccordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a rear elevation of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view taken on the plane of the line 3-3of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a front elevation showing the detailed formation of one ofthe frontal walls of the bin.

Figure 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the plane of the line5-5 of Figure 4.

Referring now to the drawings by distinguishing reference characters itwill be observed that the structure comprises a base 6. This comprises asuitable leg supported cabinet constructed on its interior toaccommodate surplus stock. In other words, this is a storage cabinet andit is provided on its front with suitable doors 7 to permit access to behad to the interior.

It has a fiat top 8 which serves as a counter as well as a support forthe cellular dispensing unit generally denoted by the numeral 9. Thiscomprises a bottom wall 10, a top wall 11, and vertical end walls 12.Mounted between the end walls in the vertically spaced relationship arehorizontal shelves 13 and these are provided with partitions 14 definingcompartments which are hereinafter described as the miniature dispensingbins 15.

The front wall of each bin indicated at 16 is provided with a visionwindow 17 and below the window with a discharge hole 18 for the seeds.An apertured plate 19 is fastened to the wall and provided with adischarge spout or trough 20 alined with the hole 18 and adapted toconveniently discharge the seed by gravity into a scoop or weighingscale pan (not shown).

The gate valve is distinguished by the numeral 21, being pivoted on theplate 19 as indicated at 22, and being shaped to drop down into thespout 20 to close the hole 18. The valve is formed with an extension 23with which a pivoted latch 24 is engageable to hold the valve in closedposition.

As seen in Figure 3 the upper central portion of each front wall 16 isprovided with a return slot 25 having a crescent shaped receptacle 26connected thereto. These features 25 and 26 permit excess seed to bereturned to the bin from the front, thus making it unnecessary to walkaround to the back of the cabinet each time to return excess feedthereto.

I11 each bin there is an inclined chute 2'7 which leads to the dischargeopening 18. Each chute is provided with a filler plate 28 havingupstanding guard forming ends 29. These features 28 and 29 are designedto expedite pouring of the seeds into the bin from the open back side ofthe cabinet.

The numeral 30 merely designates an ornamental top piece while thenumerals 31 designate dividers forming a plurality of pockets 32 toaccommodate paper bags and other paraphernalia used for convenientlymerchandising the goods. In Figure 5, the numeral 33 designatessubstantially triangular corner blocks arranged in the frontal portionof the bin and having slanting surfaces arranged to deflect the seedsthrough the discharge opening 18 in a manner to prevent clogging and toinsure free flow and at the same time preventing accumulation of thesmall seeds in the front corners of the bins.

In practice each bin is properly labelled according to the grade andkind of seed contained therein. Moreover the seeds are placed in looseor bulk form in the various bins. The entire unit 9 is placed on thecabinet top 8 so that a portion of the top protrudes beyond the unit toform a convenient support for a weighing scale (not shown) to facilitateuse of the invention.

The unit 9 is made separate from the base 6 so that when said unit 9 isnot in use in the establishment or store it may be stored away and thebase 6 allowed to remain for counter service.

The gist of the invention is in the provision of the separable units 6and 8 wherein the unit 6 serves as surplus material storage structureand dispensing counter, while the unit 9 serves for convenientlycontaining and vending the seed in bulk form. The unit 9 is particularlyimportant in that it is divided into a multiplicity of miniature bins ofduplicate construction, each pin having an inclined gravity chute withmeans at one end to facilitate filling of the bin and valved dischargemeans at the opposite end to facilitate filling of bags by way of ascoop or similar implement.

Especially do I wish to emphasize the deflector block 33 to aid indischarging the seed through the discharge holes 18. Moreover, I want toemphasize the front wall construction each wall 16 being provided with awall 17, the valved discharge means below the window and the receptacleequipped return means (25 and 26) above the window so that when anexcess quantity ofseed has been withdrawn it may be convenientlyreturned through the crescent shaped slot 25. a

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawingswill enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore,a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary. While the preferredembodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to beunderstood that minor changes coming within the field of inventionclaimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

A seed dispenser of the class described comprising a unit including amultiplicity of distinguishable seed containing and discharging bins,each bin having a front wall provided with a window, a discharge openingbelow said window, a plate attached to said front wall and having aninclined spout alined with said discharge opening, a gate valve pivotedon said plate and co-operable with the opening and spout, a retaininglatch on said wall for holding the gate valve closed, an inclinedgravity chute in the bin, feed means at the delivery end of said chuteto expedite placement of seeds in the bin, a triangular inclined blockin the frontal corner portions of the. bin for deflecting the seed tosaid discharge opening, the upper portion of the front wall of the binhaving a retin'n slot, and an outstanding trapping receptacle on saidfront wall to facilitate replacement of excess seed into the bin LL fromthe front thereof.

ARCH LEE JONES.

